Motor vehicle and parts dealers make up about one-third of the sales in Mentor, followed by general merchandise stores (20 percent) and gas stations (7 percent).

The Census of Retail Trade Report is conducted every five years. The latest report pertained to sales information from 2007 to 2012.

The data doesn’t surprise Al DiFranco, President/CEO of Mentor Area Chamber of Commerce.

“I think Mentor ranks highly in retail sales for two fundamental reasons: quantity and quality,” he said. “We have a large number of excellent retail options in the city with very diverse offerings, which appeal not only to Mentor residents but people who live outside of Mentor as well.”

The Mentor market is showing an increase in occupancy rates, into the mid-90 percent range, said Rick Ferris, president of Mentor-based Sequoia Realty Corp. His company represents five retail properties in the city.

“Corresponding to this is an upward movement in rent pricing,” Ferris said. “There is beginning to be a shortage of the best quality retail space in this market.”

Mentor has performed well because it is anchored by Great Lakes Mall, has a strong nucleus of desirable retailers and attracts shoppers from four counties, he added.

“As this project now is out there, we actually have more interest than we have land, so that’s always a good thing when you’re a developer,” said Bradley Goldberg, vice president of development for Pepper Pike-based Visconsi Companies LTD, which submitted the plan.

The project would be the first major redevelopment of the corner in about 25 years and could be a “game-changer” for the city, Traub said.